Non-fiction Natural World

In "Called Out," the text in lines 10–12, “highway medians . . . looked like the seed-packet promises come true,” provides support for which of the following excerpts from the essay?

• “The spring of 1998 was the Halley’s Comet of desert wildflower years.” (lines 1–2)

• “Our mountains wore mantles of yellow brittlebrush on their rocky shoulders . . .” (lines 6–7)

• “While nearly everyone else on the planet was cursing the soggy consequences of El Niño’s downpours . . .” (lines 2–3)

• “Our desert hills and valleys were colorized in wild schemes of maroon, . . .“ (lines 4–5)

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CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

In "Called Out," why does the author insert the dialogue between the narrator and a friend from the East (lines 29–42)?

• to show that everyone in the country knows about the wildflowers

• to define significant scientific terms

• to emphasize how special and mysterious the annual blooming is

• to entertain readers with humor

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CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

The wildflowers seen in the Sonoran Desert

• are equipped with no survival mechanisms to help them thrive.

• grow only from seeds dropped from migrating birds.

• have less resistance to drought than other species.

• produce seeds that vary in the time they spend dormant.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.1

In "Called Out," which set of words shows the author’s view of the desert flowers?

• fuss, prognosticating, waiting

• miracle, magic, remarkable

• fragile, bloom, death

• flat, salinized, rocky

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CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

In "Called Out," the colorfulness of the desert spring is determined by the amount of rain that falls in the

• previous summer.

• previous autumn.

• preceding winter

• spring itself.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

In "Called Out," what is the meaning of the metaphor “It’s just a blink, or maybe a smile . . .” (line 115)?

• Each spring flowering brings joy to of those who see it.

• Each spring flowering is a relatively brief moment.

• Each spring flowering includes a variety of blindingly brilliant colors.

• Each spring flowering is unique

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CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

In the article, the main idea of the article is

• to define the number of objects in our solar system.

• that planets are incredibly difficult to find and define

• that scientists need to encourage children that science is exciting.

• both Pluto and 2003 UB313 should be considered planets.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

In the article, the use of the word shockingly in paragraph 1 suggests that the author

• is surprised that it took so long for astronomers to suggest 53 planets.

• does not approve of the idea of identifying 53 objects as planets.

• thinks there are probably many more than 53 planets.

• believes that astronomers should identify 53 planets.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.6

CCSS.RI.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

In paragraphs 3 and 4 of the article, the author suggests that the biggest determiner of whether a celestial body can be called a planet is

• its size.

• what is it made of.

• the shape of its orbit.

• its distance from the sun

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CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

In the article, the information that only eight objects in our solar system "clearly distinguish themselves by their large sizes" supports the idea that Pluto and 2003 UB313

• should be classified as planets.

• scientifically are not planets.

• re small but still technically planets.

• should no longer be called planets.

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CCSS.RI.9-10.1

CCSS.RI.9-10.6

CCSS.RI.9-10.8

CCSS.W.9-10.9